CBA terms, explained with current data
Each page carries the current 2026-27 dollar figures and team context from the same data used by the trade machine.
First apron
What is the first apron?
Second apron
What is the second apron?
Salary matching
How does NBA salary matching work?
Traded-player exception
What is a traded-player exception (TPE)?
Draft-pick trading
What is the Stepien rule?
Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception
What is the mid-level exception (MLE)?
Room Mid-Level Exception
What is the room mid-level exception?
Bi-Annual Exception
What is the bi-annual exception (BAE)?
Bird rights
What are Bird rights?
Cap space
How does NBA cap space work?
Hard cap
What triggers an NBA hard cap?
Cap hold
What is a cap hold?
Minimum exception
How much is an NBA minimum contract?